earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
page last updated on January 19, 2011
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@Fiji (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Fiji
Background:
Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987 caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Since taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents, crippled Fiji's democratic institutions, and refused to hold elections.
Geography ::Fiji
Location:
Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
18 00 S, 175 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 18,274 sq km country comparison to the world: 156 land: 18,274 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,129 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added
Climate:
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural resources:
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 10.95%
permanent crops: 4.65%
other: 84.4% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
28.6 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.07 cu km/yr (14%/14%/71%)
per capita: 82 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited
People ::Fiji
Population:
875,983 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Age structure:
0–14 years: 30.3% (male 146,327/female 140,327)
15–64 years: 64.9% (male 307,077/female 305,886)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 20,300/female 24,803) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.6 years
male: 26.4 years
female: 26.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.827% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Birth rate:
21.52 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83
Death rate:
5.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170
Net migration rate:
−7.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209
Urbanization:
urban population: 52% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005–10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at
